Best of
Online Dental Equipment Financing: Compare Options
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Buying equipment for your dental practice can be like pulling teeth.
“It was overwhelming,” Chicago-based dentist Genaro Romo says. The challenge, he says, is not only deciding what kind of dental chair or X-ray system to buy but also figuring out how to pay for it all.
Setting up a basic workspace for a dental practice, including a dental chair, lighting and digital X-ray equipment, can cost up to $50,000, Romo says. “You also have to buy instruments and materials,” he adds. “There’s a lot more than the major equipment.”
Some dental equipment vendors offer lease-to-own and short-term financing options. Romo says he had a “reasonable” monthly payment through a lease-to-own deal for his digital imaging equipment.
If you don’t have stellar credit or you’re reluctant to go through the traditional — and typically lengthy — bank application process, online small-business loans are an option.
Buying equipment for your dental practice can be like pulling teeth.
“It was overwhelming,” Chicago-based dentist Genaro Romo says. The challenge, he says, is not only deciding what kind of dental chair or X-ray system to buy but also figuring out how to pay for it all.
Setting up a basic workspace for a dental practice, including a dental chair, lighting and digital X-ray equipment, can cost up to $50,000, Romo says. “You also have to buy instruments and materials,” he adds. “There’s a lot more than the major equipment.”
Some dental equipment vendors offer lease-to-own and short-term financing options. Romo says he had a “reasonable” monthly payment through a lease-to-own deal for his digital imaging equipment.
If you don’t have stellar credit or you’re reluctant to go through the traditional — and typically lengthy — bank application process, online small-business loans are an option.
Our pick for
SBA loans for strong businesses
SmartBiz - SBA loan
Est. APR
6.73 - 10.29%
Min. Credit Score
650
Pros
- Competitive rates among online lenders.
- Faster than getting an SBA loan from a bank.
Cons
- Must have strong financials, supported by personal and business tax returns for the past 3 years.
- Stringent rules on use of proceeds.
- Requires business lien and personal guarantee.
Qualifications
- Minimum credit score: 650.
- Minimum time in business: 2 years.
- Minimum annual revenue: $50,000.
- No bankruptcies or foreclosures in the past 3 years.
Our pick for
Competitive borrowing costs
Funding Circle - Online term loan
Est. APR
12.18 - 36.00%
Min. Credit Score
660
Pros
- Cash can be available within 3 business days.
- Competitive rates among online lenders.
- No minimum revenue requirement.
Cons
- Requires business lien and personal guarantee.
Qualifications
- Minimum credit score: 660.
- Minimum time in business: 2 years.
- Minimum annual revenue: None.
- No bankruptices in the past 7 years.
Summary of Online Dental Equipment Financing: Compare Options
| Lender | Best For | Est. APR | Min. Credit Score |
|---|---|---|---|
SmartBiz - SBA loan | Best for: SBA loans for strong businesses | 6.73 - 10.29% | 650 |
Funding Circle - Online term loan | Best for: Competitive borrowing costs | 12.18 - 36.00% | 660 |
SBA loans for strong businesses: SmartBiz
SmartBiz offers the least expensive online small-business financing, mainly because it specializes in U.S. Small Business Administration-guaranteed loans. SmartBiz offers SBA loans of up to $350,000 with an annual percentage rate of 8.53% to 9.83%.
Evan Singer, CEO of SmartBiz, says dental practices have also turned to his company to get better financing deals. “We’re seeing a lot of dentists refinance high-interest debt with our loans right now,” he says. Lowering your overall monthly payment means better cash flow.
For competitive borrowing costs: Funding Circle
Funding Circle offers financing for major expenditures at dental practices, such as buying or replacing dental chairs, says Mike Rabil, the lender’s vice president of partnerships. The chairs alone represent a large investment, he says, noting that “in a busy practice, these chairs are exposed to a significant amount of daily wear and tear.”
Funding Circle is a good option if your dental practice has been in business around two years and your finances are in solid shape.
Compare small-business loans
NerdWallet has created an interactive tool of the best small-business loans to meet your needs and goals. We gauged lender trustworthiness, market scope and user experience, among other factors, and arranged them by categories that include your revenue and how long you’ve been in business.
Last updated on November 21, 2019
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Online Dental Equipment Financing: Compare Options
- SmartBiz - SBA loan: Best for SBA loans for strong businesses
- Funding Circle - Online term loan: Best for Competitive borrowing costs
